Sinusitis, Rhinosinusitis and Chronic Sinus Conditions

Sinusitis (a.k.a. Rhinosinusitis) is an inflammation of the sinuses that can be persistent and painful. There are two basic types of sinus inflammation:

Acute – less than 4 weeks in duration

Chronic – greater than 4 weeks in duration.

This condition is the result of inflammation in the paranasal sinuses where one or more sinus areas may be involved. There are 4 major sinus cavities which may be effected: maxillary, frontal, ethmoidal, and sphenoidal.

Common Symptoms of Rhinosinusitis Include:

Nasal blockage and sinus congestion

Sinus discharge and postnasal drip

Cough with or without fever

Headache with facial pressure and/or pain

Lessened sense of smell

Chronic and acute sinusitis are treated using very different methods in Chinese Medicine. Both respond favorably to acupuncture and herbal medicine, but the techniques and herbs used are often quite different.

In the case of chronic sinusitis, it is especially important to look at some of the possible underlying causative factors, including:

Food or environmental allergies

Immune weakness or imbalance

Chronic bacterial or fungal infection

Mucociliary conditions (related to the cilia that transport mucus)

Other possible (more rare) sinus diseases

Sinusitis that occurs in a recurrent manner can lead to persistent symptoms that often negatively impact quality of life. In addition, a chronic inflamed sinus mucosa can lead to the the body responding by creating nasal polyps (only in more advanced cases). Alternatively, chronic infections can lead to other health conditions, if not properly addressed.

Meridian Health Clinic

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